Blog

September 17, 2015 In Mental Game

A BETTER WAY…

Next time you are practicing a certain skill, I want to recommend taking a different approach.

Once you believe you understand something, I mean truly understand what you are being asked, instead of “thinking” your way through the move- “feel” your way through it.

For example, when working on creating separation in your swing or in a throw, you are simply separating your lower body from your upper body by turning in opposite directions to create torque(power). Many players will try to think of how to do this as opposed to just going for it. It is your body anyways, correct? You have been occupying your body for a good amount of time to know what separating as described above would mean.

Put simply, a person who thinks is simply judging themselves within the move they are making which will result in less than successful results more often than not. A person who feels their way through gets where they want to be faster and is more consistent over time.

Onward.

June 8, 2015 In Mental Game

WELL SAID…

J.K. Rowling, world renowned author of the Harry Potter series, said it best when speaking of giving the effort needed without worrying about the outcome…

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all–in which case, you fail by default.”

Think about that today as you go out to do what you do as a player, parent, coach…etc. Fear of failure is a self imposing prison. Trust that the time you are investing will pay off and believe you are going to make something good happen. Or else, like Rowling says – you will have lived so cautiously that you fail anyways by default.

May 23, 2015 In Hitting

KEEP IT STILL

Ever wonder why certain players just always seem to hit the ball with authority all the time? It seems as though in every at bat, the ball is jumping off their bat. A lot of it lies in the first part of hitting – to keep your head still.

Ted Williams always said to heap your head still when hitting. Tony Gwynn too. Watch video of Barry Bonds or Albert Pujols whenever you get the chance. They are masters at it.

Let’s not discount that there are other parts of the swing as well, but consider this common sense example…

If you are standing still and a car drives past you, you might say it was going fast.

However, if you were in a car yourself traveling one way and another car was in the other lane traveling the opposite way, you would notice that everything looks even faster. So how does that relate to baseball? Well, when the ball is being delivered toward home plate, if your head is moving forward, it’s a pretty safe bet to assume your chances of making good contact go down.

Therefore keep your head still. The more still it is throughout the swing, the better hitter you will be.

May 19, 2015 In Coaching, External Circumstances, Mental Game

IF WE ONLY REALIZED…

If there is one thing a player needs to know, it’s that they “belong.”

Let’s face it – we go through our lives hoping we can belong to “this” group or belong to “that” group. That is the problem though – we only hope. Understanding that you are good enough in the first place is easier said than done, but that is only because of the terms the world has placed on us as human beings. When we were extremely young, say 2 years old, those things didn’t matter as our innocence prevailed. However, as we grew older, we became more literal and people began assigning a value to everything we did. As a result, we began questioning our very existence sometimes in the present moment.

“I belong.” Go on and say it.

“I belong on this team. I belong in this class. I belong at this job.”

Be present where you are at and not anywhere else. You have a right to take up the space you occupy at this very moment.”

You belong.

May 9, 2015 In Uncategorized

STORIES

Aren’t the long stories the best ones? About how you earned that good grade, found that great job, met your spouse or managed to make the team against all odds.

If long stories are so great, how come it seems we spend our lives working for the short ones? The very act of seeking out the shortcut and the quick fix or win might very well be the reason you don’t have enough successful long stories to share.

May 1, 2015 In Uncategorized

A GREAT TOOL

What is the value of a mirror?

A mirror can tell us so much. Most of us start our day by looking in one before work or school, but how many of us use it when it comes to learning the game? Never underestimate the value of this resource that is in the majority of households. So much can be learned about the body and the way that it works by doing drills is in front of a full length mirror. We can see the way everything is supposed to move when we do it correctly whether it being throwing, fielding, hitting…etc. More importantly, after we have seen, we then realize how it feels, which improves are understanding.

Don’t let today pass without getting this feedback. Spend the time. It’s a worthy investment and one that will pay dividends.